Percentage Distribution of Federal Aid Funds by Sector, 2016-17

In 2016-17, public two-year college students, who made up 32% of full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate enrollment, received 34% of Pell Grant funds. Students in this sector received less than their proportionate share of funds from all other federal student aid programs.

In 2016-17, students in the private nonprofit sector accounted for 18% of undergraduate and 22% of total postsecondary FTE enrollment. They received 68% of Grad PLUS, 48% of Perkins Loans, and 41% of FWS funds.

Pell Grants, FSEOG, and Direct Subsidized Loans are for undergraduates only. Grad PLUS Loans are for graduate students only. Parent PLUS Loans are for parents of undergraduate students. FWS, Perkins Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are available to both undergraduate and graduate students.

In 2012-13, 41% of Post-9/11 Veterans Benefits went to students in the for-profit sector. (U.S. Senate HELP Committee, 2014, “Is the New G.I. Bill Working?”) In 2017, Congress passed legislation known as the “Forever GI Bill,” increasing the generosity of education benefits for veterans.